The nnCLP House, designed by Argentinian architecture practice nnarquitectos, earmarks and dominates a flat site in La Cascada Country Golf estate outside the city of Córdoba, Argentina, with its distinctive and remarkable take at brutalist architecture. Extending as a linear monolith composed of concrete, the two-storey private residence is built for a family of five, prioritising common spaces to foster deeper connections. Spread across a 440 sq.m. footprint, the residence features an open-plan living and dining area, a kitchen, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a home office and staff quarters, along with a large terrace, a swimming pool and a vast landscaped garden.

The residential architecture is characterised by simple geometry and cuboidal volumes, carved en masse as opposed to stacked together, accentuated by exposed concrete walls along with wood and glass details in the interior design. The facade design towards the south of the residence is informed by a seemingly-floating concrete mass, sitting upon two angular walls that converge to frame the entrance. Various ingresses are placed across the building to allow ease of circulation, increasing functionality and efficiency within the doctored structure. Apart from the primary entrance, the house features a pathway on the southwest corner, which leads to service entries for the primary and the staff kitchen. The courtyard is lent definition by the living area and the facade wall, providing direct access to the rest of the site to its east for easy upkeep of the landscape. Additionally, the house features bioclimatic design devices, such as an air renewal system through skylights in order to ensure cross-ventilation in all the spaces.

The orientation, layout and zoning of the residential design are guided by geographical and environmental factors that govern the site. Solid walls and fewer openings on the South block the harsh sun, facilitating privacy from the street. The mass of the residential building spreads along the north-south axis, allowing ample natural light into the living area, the master bedroom and the home office from the north. While the other rooms offer views of the east, the bathrooms and utility areas are positioned in the west, featuring smaller openings.

To cater to the client’s wishes, the architects integrate a sophisticated mix of open and closed spaces into the spatial design, connecting them through dramatic transitions framed in concrete and timber. The entrance foyer is a double-height space, visually balanced by a linear staircase design and a large formal dining table on either side. The uninterrupted living and dining hall feels rather ensconced and comfortable due to the inner courtyard, where the children can safely engage in play and other activities. An outdoor lounging space acts as a vantage point to the landscape in the north, featuring a floating display cabinet—also in concrete—to ensure privacy. Further in, the kitchen features wooden furniture affixed to and running along the walls, complemented by linear glass openings that visually elongate the space. A small breakfast table and the kitchen island provide informal seating for sharing meals and conversations in the space.

Several details of the concrete architecture point towards a meticulous design and construction process. An array of beams adorns the ceiling to create a play of light and shadow, adding a touch of drama to the spaces and acting as a cohesive design element that ties the scheme together. The residential interiors reflect the simplicity of the built form through clean lines and a uniform flow of functions along the spaces.

The robust structural design of the nnCLP House sets it apart from the conventional concrete construction of residential buildings. Rather than acting as a backdrop, the beams, columns and walls of the building subsume a personality of their own, transforming the residence into a massive, functional sculptural design.